Slamfest in search for sponsor

ORGANISERS of Rotherham’s biggest free arts festival will soon gear up for another attempt to produce the town’s answer to Sheffield’s Tramlines festival — as long as they can find a sponsor.

Showcasing music and poetry on stages across the borough, Slamfest 2012 saw dozens of artists perform indoors and outside at venues including the Trades Club and Clifton Park.

Now grassroots group Rotherham Art Events — who hope their event can put the town on the map like Sheffield’s annual Tramlines Festival — are looking for sponsors interested in helping fund a 2013 Slamfest on the weekend of July 6 and 7.

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A business willing to foot the bill for a stage would benefit from advertising space before hundreds of gig-goers, said organiser Mick Hill.

“It’s the cost of a decent stage which is the main outgoing,” he said. “That and the hire of the PA system.

“Slamfest should be really well attended this year — we should be able to fill All Saints’ Square on the Saturday.”

Organisers have already lined up nearly 70 singers, bands and poets and are waiting on confirmation from more.

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Bands such as Diamond Velocity, The Sherlocks, the Tom Killner Band and Havana Rocks will grace the festival’s town centre main stage on the Saturday — if organisers can afford one.

Searching for Sylvia, Papa Legba’s Voodoo Pirates and Pocketful O’ Nowt will appear alongside other acts on the bandstand in Clifton Park on Sunday.

There are plans to host a youth stage at The Trades Club, as well as acoustic sets and poetry readings at other town centre venues.

Mick would like to see some big name bands come and raise the Slamfest’s profile during its second outing.

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“We want it to be like Tramlines [in Sheffield],” he said. “We want it to help regenerate the town centre. Rotherham gets a bad press but it’s not a bad place.”

The festival — which cost around £4,000 to stage last year — will be paid for in part through fundraising gigs held throughout the year.

“Tramlines has had its funding cut, but it still gets £42,000 per year,” said Mick. “If we got just £2,000 from Rotherham Borough Council we would be more than happy.

“At the end of the day, we’re looking to regenerate Rotherham town centre, so it benefits everyone.”

For more information visit www.slamfest.net, and for more on live music and arts events in Rotherham, visit www.rotherhamartsevents.com or drop in to RAE’s new town centre office on Wellgate.